Alarmed and dangerous

Feature

With homeowners 17 per cent more likely to experience a burglary in the first quarter of the year, Halifax Home Insurance is urging Britons to start 2006 on the right foot by taking steps to protect their homes from intruders.

Installing security devices that are universally available from DIY stores and supermarkets can make a massive difference to ensuring home security. In fact 78 per cent of homes burgled in 2004/05 did not have an alarm fitted at the time of the crime and only 35 per cent of the homes burgled had window locks fitted.

Worryingly, new research shows that although almost one-in-two British homes are fitted with a burglar alarm, a third of alarm owners admit they don't use theirs all of the time. Worse still, four per cent of alarm owners don't even know how to turn their burglar alarm on.

Eleven million also admit to ignoring a neighbour's burglar alarm, many perhaps assuming it to be a false alarm.

Vicky Emmott, senior underwriting manager at Halifax Home Insurance, says, "With houses stocked up on new high-value goods and electrical gifts the start of the year is an especially tempting and potentially lucrative period for burglars. Last year alone Halifax Home Insurance received over 22,000 claims for theft. The average buildings claim value exceeded £500, whilst the average contents claim value exceeded £1,500."

Emmott continues, "Research certainly indicates that deterrents such as burglar alarms clearly make burglars think twice. To ensure they are even more effective, not only do more people need to install them, they need to make sure that they use them and test them regularly."

You don't need to break the bank to get a burglar alarm installed in your home, and it might make you feel a little bit more secure. But before you rush out and buy the latest security system, follow a few of these tips from the BBC's crime prevention website.

Only speak to installers that offer you a free survey and written quotation without obligation, and avoid companies that try to shock you with stories or statistics about burglary. Burglaries are less common than most people think and violent attacks on people in their homes are extremely rare.

There are a few different types of alarm system. The first, and most common, is the traditional bells-only system. When professionally fitted these cost around £500 to install plus another £65 per year for a maintenance contract.

If this is too expensive for you, fit a DIY system. Although the DIY type may not be as reliable as a professional system, simply having an alarm can be a deterrent, as most burglars tend to choose the easy option. Take a look around your area, and if most homes have an alarm and yours doesn't, you probably stand more chance of being burgled.

The more expensive option is a monitored alarm, which may be worth thinking about if you have a lot of valuable property, or you live somewhere isolated. Monitored alarms are connected to an alarm-receiving centre where someone will alert the police if an intruder is detected. They cost between £800 and £900 to install and around £200 each year for monitoring and maintenance.

The big difference between a bells-only and a monitored burglar alarm is police response. You need to know that the police will not respond to a bells-only alarm unless they receive confirmation from you, your family, or someone else nearby, that there is a burglary in progress.

Before deciding on the type of alarm to install contact your insurance company. They may offer discounts off your premium depending on the type you have fitted and the kind of installer you use. This could help make your choice a little easier. If installing your own alarm, make sure it meets BS6707 requirements. And if you get a professional in to install it, ensure they meet BS4737 standards.

Picture caption: While home security equipment isn't cheap, it could potentially save you thousands in the long run.